Seattle, Washington-based emcee D.Black made waves late last year with the release of his highly celebrated sophomore album,Ali-Yah, on Sportn' Life Records/MYX Music Label. Showcasing his development as an artist since his emergence onto the hip-hop scene, Ali-Yah features 14 soulful, yet heavy-hitting, tracks chockfull of insightful lyricism, smooth delivery, and bangin' production, which was supplied by powerhouses Jake One and Vitamin D. "Yesterday" and "The Return" are just two of the many standout tracks that ended up on countless mixtapes and catapultedAli'Yah onto many year-end lists.
With all the critical acclaim that the album has received, it seemed only natural to release an instrumental version for public consumption, which D.Black is proud to do. A lifelong advocate of music and its unmistakable power, D.Black hopes aspiring emcees will take these expertly arranged beats as a foundation for their own inspired verses.
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Following the release of his well-received MYX Music Label debut Ali'Yah, Seattle-based MC D.Black is showing no signs of slowing down in 2010. Teaming up with fellow Emerald City native and frequent collaborator B.Brown, D.Black is gearing up to release a brand new (and free!) EP entitled Black and Brown – D.Black will be handling all the vocals, while producer B.Brown provides the beats. In anticipation of the release, D.Black is leaking the first song from the forthcoming EP for public consumption. "Special" is about taking a stand against the destructive ways that most people live their lives. "We got a generation dying over wealth, but we constantly chasing our self," raps D.Black. It showcases the lyrical skills and sophistication you have come to expect from D.Black, smooth production by B.Brown, and features a guest spot from fellow Sportn' Life Records labelmate MC Fatal Lucciauno. The trio prove that, just in case you weren't sure, Sportn' Life Records and MYX Music Label are a force to be reckoned with.
Joining the songs are two exclusive videos featuring D.Black speaking on the creative process behind Ali'Yah. D.Black takes some time to tell us what the album means to him, and where he drew his inspirations for it. "I'm transcending and ascending into a more spiritual being - in a lighter realm." Black, a firm believer in the Messianic Hebrew roots of Christianity, talks about his journey from darkness and lack of direction to the light and newfound direction in his life. "I listen for and I write for those that are in the light," says D.Black. He hopes that listeners will listen with an open mind, and re-listen if need be, to follow the words that he is sharing.
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Never taking any days off, Flawless Hustle is back less than four months after the release of the critically-acclaimed Money Isn’t Real compilation with another dip into the money pit of true Hip-Hop, entitled Stay Flawless. The first single from this project is a dream and a treat – Sene and Von Pea linked up for some serious fury, trading verses over a head-nodding, string-driven banger. Blaze an L of that good, throw your hoodie on and tell them fake niggas in your world what you really feel about them. Perfect kiss-off for a new year. Nice guys finish last, hustlers keep it movin’… Flawless.
Stay Flawless also features: Prince Po, Jake One, Madlib, L.I.F.E. Long, D.Black, Vanderslice, Mike Schpitz, Zilla Rocca, Has-Lo, SK, Fatal Lucciauno, Spaceman, Curly Castro, Chill Moody, IllumiNessence, and many more.
2009 was a triumphant year for MYX Music Label, and with the new year upon us the Bay Area label is again readying itself to be at the forefront of independent hip-hop. The year promises to be both inspired and energetic as the label preps for high profile releases from Crown Royale, One Be Lo, Keelay, Fortilive, and others.
MYX Music Label found success in 2009 with celebrated projects from Keelay & Zaire, Jern Eye, Kam Moye AKA Supastition, and the sophomore effort from D.Black, which found itself on Amazon.com's Outstanding Albums of 2009 list. The young label is prepared to continue its musical offensive in 2010 and, according to MYX founder Karim Panni, ready to "establish [itself] as one of the premier independent labels and one of the biggest producers of quality hip-hop."
Leading MYX's quest for hip-hop supremacy is Crown Royale, the duo comprised of veteran emcee Buff1 and beat junkie DJ Rhettmatic, who will be dropping an album come springtime. Audiophiles will be happy to hear that MYX is also planning on working in conjunction with Fat Beats to give the Crown Royale album the full vinyl treatment. The melodious movement continues with One Be Lo, who will be hosting a veritable 'Who's Who of Hip-Hop' party on his album due out in April, featuring lyrical stylings from the likes of Phonte of Little Brother, Jean Grae, Freeway, Zion I, Devin the Dude, Royce da 5'9", Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, Kam Moye, and more.
Also keeping busy in the new year is Keelay, who, in addition to dropping a project with Bambu (formerly of Native Guns), will also be collaborating with hip-hop instrumentalists The Park and chanteuse Ragen Fykes for an album of genre-bending proportions. MYX will round out its year of sonic selections by serving up a Fortilive album produced by beat maestro !LLMind. New videos from D.Black, Kam Moye, and Jern Eye, as well as South By Southwest performances by Crown Royale, Kam Moye, One Be Lo and Jern Eye are also in the MYX this year. With this extensive slate of offerings, the MYX Music Label looks to not only realize its hopes of uniting the Bay Area in musical solidarity, but also establish itself as a hip-hop force to be reckoned with in 2010.
Seattle emcee D.Black has been nominated in this week's contest for MTV'u's The Freshman 5 for his first video "Yesterday" off his sophomore album Ali'Yah. Every week, five new and upcoming artists are presented an opportunity to gain regular rotation on the MTVu channel, which is exclusively broadcasted to college campuses and gives artists an excellent shot at obtaining exposure.
Set underneath a freeway overpass (perhaps the road that separates heaven and hell?), the video depicts an epic chess game for D.Black's soul. Light and dark versions of the emcee face off against each other, with supporters shrouding and encouraging each player. The video's lesson is to allow yourself to leave things, especially negative things, in your past. He combines this message with smooth, flowing rhymes and a classic soul feel, set over warm production by B. Brown and D. Black himself.
Fans are encouraged to vote as many times as they like starting at 11am until the cutoff – 2pm EST on Friday. Music fans can vote for D.Black on the MTVu website here: http://www.mtvu.com/category/music/the-freshmen
Illmind and Dub MD are back with an early Christmas present for everyone following the movement, with the fourth installment of the "Blaps, Rhymes & Life" compilation series. This edition is a little special, and the first of its kind, comprising of 2 Discs with double the dose of classic !llmind production. Volume 4 showcases the usual mixture of mainstream/upcoming artists: KRS-One, Keith Murray, Erykah Badu, Big Pooh, Skyzoo, Jared Evan, Reef The Lost Cauze, D-Black, Thoth and many more.
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